SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Guests on the Boulder chairlift at Heavenly Mountain Resort were evacuated by ski patrol after the lift stopped unexpectedly on the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 11, according to multiple firsthand accounts and local news reports.
The lift malfunction occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. with riders still on the line near the top of the lift, said witnesses. Riders remained perched in their chairs for roughly 2½ hours while resort ski patrol set up rope-based evacuation equipment to lower them safely to the snow below when attempts to restart the lift failed.
“It never started back up,” said guest Judy Spees, describing her experience waiting high above the slope. “Ski patrol rescued us … They did a very good job.”
Ski patrol personnel used a rope, pulley and harnessing system to bring riders down one by one, precisely and methodically, ensuring the safety of all stranded guests. Several riders reported being offered complimentary lift tickets for the inconvenience.
Officials with Heavenly — owned and operated by Vail Resorts — have not yet released a detailed statement on the cause of the mechanical issue. The Boulder chairlift remains out of service as of Monday afternoon, while resort technicians and mountain operations staff evaluate what led to the stoppage.
Local emergency services were not reported to have been dispatched for this incident, and no injuries have been confirmed. The resort continues normal operations on other lifts and terrain.
As winter skiing and snowboarding conditions continue in the Sierra, Heavenly is approaching a busy season with its planned 70th anniversary celebration later this month.
